Fruit-drier



(No Model.)

J. M. TEASDALE.

FRUIT DRIER. No. 256,927. Ptented Apr.25, 1882.

|i I m H ia5 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. TEASDALE, OF HOWELL, MICHIGAN.

FRUIT-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,927, dated April 25, 1882.

Application filed February 20, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES M. TEASDALE, of Howell, in the county of Livingston and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Driers; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of devices designed for drying fruit, wherein the fruit is placed upon suitable trays, which are inserted between rectangular flues through which live steam is continually passing, such fines being arranged in a series, one above the other, each flue taking steam font a steam pipecommon to all and dischargingorexhansting into an exhaust or drip pipe common to all.

The invention consists in the peculiar con struction and arrangement ofthe various parts, and their various combinations, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in elevation. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line :0 m in Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, A represents a series of rectangular steam-fines arranged in a series, one above the other, and separated from each other by means of the end standards or supports, B, and intermediate supports, U, the latter of which are secured by soldering or otherwise at one edge to one flue, which may be the upper or lower. The end supports are provided at their edges with outwardly-projecting flanges, through which bolts pass to secure them to the series of fines, so as to render the structure rigid. These fines, as will be seen, pitch from the back forward upon a slight incline, while the spaces between the fines are open at the backand front.

Projecting from one end of each of the fines A is a steam-pipe, D, the outer ends of which are connected to a stand steam-pipe, E, which latter receives steam at its lower end from a steam-boiler, F, or any other suitable source of supply. At the opposite end of the steamfiues A, and at their lower corner, project exhaust-steam pipes G, which discharge into a common exhaust-pipe, H, open at both ends. I represents suitable screens or frames, upon which is laid the fruit to lie-dried, and which are inserted between the tlues A, as in the ordinary manner.

It has been found in practice that in driers wherein the-fines have been upon a horizontal plane the moisture dischargingfrom the'd rying fruit has collected to a certain extent upon the bottom of the flue nextabove, and thereby greatlyretarded the effective workingof the device; and, again, where a series of these flues have been employed wherein the steam passed from one line to the other it has been found thatthe upper shelves or series of lines have been very slow in performing the duties required, from the fact that the steam has thrown off the greater portion ofits heat before having reached there. In the construction herein described it will be seen that each flue takes steam independently of the other, and that taking steam from the same source of supply the upper flues must necessarily perform their functions as readily as the lower ones, and being arranged upon an incline the water of condensation, seeking the lower point in each flue, discharges through the exhaust at that pointinto the common exhaust-pipe, down which it flows to the ground or into any suitable receptacle, while the steam exhausts at the top. It will be found again that the flues being arranged upon an incline, their lowest point or edge being called the front, necessarily creates a draft from the front to rear over the screens, causing the moisture and steam thrown ofi' by the drying fruit to readily pass out at the rear side of the device, thereby increasing the capacity for drying, and avoiding the objections hereinbefore raised as against those devices wherein the flues are arranged upon a horizontal plane. Pipes which connect the flues A with the steam-pipe and exhaust are so arranged and adjusted that they can readily be removed, and the opening into the steam-pipe or exhaust can be closed by a suitable plug or cap, and by removing the bolts which secure the end supports to the fines it will be seen that any one or more of such fines may be removed from the device for the purposes of repairs without affecting the operation of the remaining fines.

1 am aware that it is not broadly new to make fruit-driers with flues having steam-inlet and exhaustconnections, and I do not therefore broadly claim such; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In afruit-drier, a series of rectangular steamflues, A, one above the other, and all inclining from back to front in the same direction,in com- [0 bination with the stenm inlet E and exhaust H,

and separate connections between each flue and the inlet and exhaust pipes, said exhaustpipe connections being made at the lowest end of the fines, substantially as shown and described.

JAMES M. TEASDALE.

VVi l nesses:

CHARLES J. HUNT, E. SoULLY. 

